Businessweek Archives

`Islamization Doesn't Mean Backwardness' (Int'l Edition)

March 19, 1995

Business Week International Readers Report

`ISLAMIZATION DOESN'T MEAN BACKWARDNESS' (int'l edition)

I read your report, "Bringing the Koran to the corner office" (Letter from Istanbul, Feb. 13), with much interest since business, it seems, goes with religion. Until now, like me, many Muslim businesspeople thought the people of Turkey had no religious values. It was a pleasant surprise for us.

A businessman, after a certain point, analyzes the way he has adapted to reach the top. When he discovers that pride is an undesirable trait, he turns his attention to either religion or to a way that guides him to spiritual satisfaction. Turkey is no exception for this change of principles and values based on Islam.

The Musiad group led by Erol Yarar has done a commendable job by giving care and attention to the working community, which has been neglected so far. He has also proved to the West that Islamization doesn't mean backwardness. Thanks for covering such excellent changes in the Turkish business community in a remarkable way.

Syed Altaf Ahmed

Madras, India

It is simplistic and naive for you to say that if Turkey seems to be headed in the direction of Iran or Algeria, it is doubtful that the country's Islamic business community will have much to do with it. Complacency in the face of religious fundamentalism of any kind--or of any religion--has had disastrous results most of the time.